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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol 35 no. 14. 28 June 1972

Take Sides & Mobilise

Take Sides & Mobilise

Sir,

I was under the impression, although perhaps I am mistaken, that Trotsky, in his writings (which are supposedly followed by the SAL), was in favour of a form of government where the people elected their own representatives. Presumably this form of government also requires that the people should be prepared to abide by the decisions of the majority. But it seems that the SAL and their friends in the July 14 Mobilisation Committee cannot accept democratic majority decisions. Their attitude, as it has been displayed at the COV meeting on 28 May, and after an SRC on 13 June, seems to be that, if one disagrees with the majority, one should secede.

Thus we have two separate organisations trying to organise a mobilisation (the same mobilisation) against the Indochinese War on July 14th. We have an idiotic duplication of publicity which is serving to unnecessarily deplete the funds of both organisations. We have a situation where, because of the petty in-fighting, most students do not understand what is happening on July 14, who is organising the mobilisation, or what the central demands of the mobilisation are.

I am prepared to admit that the demands of the COV are probably a little too extreme for the general public. The call of 'Victory to the Indo-chinese people' can only increase the alienation of demonstrators from that section of the population who see all marchers as "dirty commies", and who complain of the repressive administration of Soviet Russia and ask us if we want that here. One must remember, however, that these complaints will be made anyway, whatever the central demands of the mobilisation. Those who are prepared to march are unlikely to be deterred to any great extent by a few banners expressing support for the 7-point peace plan of the PRG or calling for victory to the Indochinese people. What will do the mobe more harm in the public eyes than this slight extremism is the disunity amongst the organisers. The action of the July 14 Mobilisation Committee in refusing to accept democratic decisions is sheer stupidity.

One must remember what the issues are What the mobilisation is all about. Is it whether we want an end to imperialism in Indochina by the United States, or is it a matter of whether the July 14 Mobilisation Committee should be able to claim some of the credit for organising a (hopefully) successful mobilisation.

But what is wrong with extremism anyway. Mr Templeton (MP for Awarua, in the Address-in-reply Debate) has said that since earliest times, the emphasis involving political problems had been on the middle course. Presumably, the more extreme you are, the further your way the middle must lie. One cannot expect the government to take a demonstration seriously anyway, and thus the more extreme the approach one adopts, the better the chances of arousing them.

Personally, I feel that this whole situation is farcical. The SAL and others are concentrating on their 'isms' so much that all they are getting across to other people is ego. What has happened to leftism and socialism. Have their proponents forgotten them?

David Tripe